Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Vintage wines and spirits are important for many reasons, and sometimes those reasons are personal. When your children are young, lay down some birth year bottles to give them when they’re older. Here are some to consider.
Vintage Port: Major port houses typically proclaim the three best harvests of each decade vintage years. Aged in wooden barrels for around 18 months and then between 15 and 30 years in bottle, vintage port can last more than 50 years. Prices range from $75 to $125. Pick up three to 12 bottles—or more.
Sauternes: This sweet white dessert wine, made in the Sauternais region of Bordeaux, France. Prices vary by winery and vintage. Half bottles are perfect and sold in wooden cases of 24. Prices range from $20 to upwards of $125 for Château d’Yquem. Try Château La Tour Blanche or Château Rieussec.
Bordeaux: This red wine originates in France’s Bordeaux region. There are hundreds of châteaux (producers), and vintages vary from passable to legendary. Prices start at less than $10 and climb into the hundreds of dollars per bottle. These wines can be amazing, but they’re also very delicate, being sensitive to heat, vibrations, and light. They age gracefully, but can go bad even under ideal conditions. Consider a 12-bottle case. Though it’s possible to purchase fully mature bottles from your birth year, such bottles command a premium, so they should be acquired shortly after they’re released.
Tawny Port: For milestone birthdays or anniversaries, try 10-, 20-, 30-, or 40-year-old tawny port, which is matured in the barrel and take on a smooth, complex nature after years of oxidation and aging. Prices range from $30 a 10-year-old tawny port to $200-plus for a 40-year-old bottle.
